Into the 5th Dimension as in Multi-Axis CNC Routers

Vertical machining by CNC Routers is of the 5-axis type. Depending on the material or the substrate the operations are either milled or routed. The vertical machining machines are moving on 5-axis. The cutting element may move up or down or move sideways or move forwards and backwards. The work holding surface may also be moving. All of these operations are employed during prototyping which is akin to two or more people chiseling and removing or shaping the clay model in automotive renderings. 

The question asked by non-technical people is this ‘there are only three dimensions, so how does this machine work on 5-axis”? Here is a good explanation of the 5-axis conundrum.

 Imagine that the object is placed on the working surface and it is moving. The cutting tool on the spindle is fixed in one position.

Here are the possible movements.

• The objects move up and down while the spindle is stationary.

• The object moves side to side

• The third movement is the forward and backward movement.

• The fourth movement is the side to side rotation changing the angle of the cutting bit

• The 5th movement is the back and forth movement again changing the angle of the spindle.

Now change the moving object to the action of the spindle and reverse the movements meaning the object is fixed and the spindle is moving. Check this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zvUm5R3wbk) and you will notice the action of the spindle replicating all the movements and making the explanation of the 5-axis clear.

 Omni CNC Technology Co. Ltd from Jinan in China makes the 5-axis Router CNC in the video. They are one of the leading innovators in the CNC domain with several types of CNC machines in their catalog. The OMNI 5-axis CNC router has a heavy duty gantry as well as the machine table that provides excellent rigidity during the high speed milling operations. Primarily used for mold making (as in the video) the machine can also process other materials such as resin tooling board, expanded polystyrene and other composites used in mold design and large metalloid molds used in aviation. The machine’s forte is 3d surface engraving and shape cutting.